Amazing, awesome, excellent — were some of the words that viewers of the The Paradox of Seabrook Farms used to describe Helga Merits’ documentary that had a successful sneak preview at the Boston Baltic Film Festival (BBFF) on March 3, and a “world premiere” in South Jersey on March 16, to a sold-out crowd and rave reviews.
The Millville, NJ, Levoy Theatre which can hold nearly 700 people was sold out days beforehand and many disappointed movie-goers were turned away at the door. People had lined up early in the morning, hours before the doors opened. In addition to the local people, viewers had traveled from Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and even California.
According to film critic Peter Keough, “The film is a study of a rare instance of positive unintended consequences…. [Seabrook Farms] was a kind of hardscrabble, multicultural enclave that those who lived there as children recall with affection. A parable of capitalism at its worst — and best.”
Merits, together with Ranno Kasemaa from TEB Creative, produced a seamless documentary that is informative and moving. Fifteen people from different ethnicities tell a common story of shattered dreams and renewed hopes, stories of survival and perseverance, reflecting the struggles for freedom from war and oppression that are in today’s headlines around the world. The juxtaposition of this film on the immigration situation in the US right now is very timely.
Because of the positive reaction to the film, Merits is presently exploring options to show the film in other venues, such as New York City and the West Coast. She is also planning to have DVDs produced which will contain supplemental material, the footage that did not make it into the film. For more information or any questions, please write to [email protected].
Marilem (Soodla) Ferentinos
